The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Black Coffee: How Gynecologists and Engineers Are a Lot Alike — Or Not.

Dear Readers: I love Dr. Dean — and not just because he’s a world famous gynecologist. He’s also the proprietor of one of my favorite blogs: The Millionaire Nurse Blog. Thankfully, he was kind enough to once again agree to fill in for me on this week’s edition of Black Coffee. So remember, folks, be sure to email any complaints or letters of outrage to him.

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It’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy a little joe…

Welcome to another rousing edition of Black Coffee, your off-beat weekly round-up of what’s been going on in the world of money and personal finance. Here’s what caught my attention over the past week…

I see Penzo has been workin’ his poor California brain to the bone lately, and it shows:

He asked me to write Black Coffee again — I thought after last time I would be booted forever — his memory must be gone.

He is going on two vacays in less than a month. He must’ve earned a little overtime money.

He forgot about asking his big-time supporters like MSN, Money-Watch, and Kiplingers to fill in for him. (Though on second thought, he prolly thinks my writing makes him look good.)

What does all the above mean? Not a damn thing. But he asked me to write for him today, and I had to say something! Or to paraphrase: I report, you decide…

Blogs I’ve Been Following This Week

Life and My Finances – Derek asks are people delaying retirement? All the new grads in the teaching field that I know are doing odd jobs, working as teachers’ assistants, or continuing their education — ’cause none of those eligible for retirement are leaving.

Wealth Pilgrim – How to protect your assets is a timely subject in this recent asset-killer we call the stock market. Neal will help you out!

The Centsible Life – Meanwhile, Kelly’s subject of the day is called A Back To School Giveaway. I can hear the kids moaning already.

Free Money Finance – FMF laughs about the varying costs of housing in different areas of the country. I’m sure it would be true culture shock to move to NYC after spending 50 years in the South. They would laugh at my accent and probably think I’m a hick. Anyone paying two grand a month or more for a 900 square foot pad is the one who’s kinda’ looney.

Debit: Sorry, Len. My application for the Masters golf tournament ticket lottery was NOT chosen again. Too bad; I was going to invite you (and a hundred of my other closest friends) to join me.

Debit: When I became an intern, one of the most difficult things I learned to do, was “pronounce” someone dead so the funeral home could pick up the body. I was always worried I would solemnly say they were dead, and then they’d wake up and start screaming for their urinal. The Social Security Administration, however, has no qualms with its pronouncements — they incorrectly declare 14,000 people “dead” every year!

Debit: Here’s an “It Can Happen To Anybody” story. Burt Reynolds, a former football player at nearby Florida State University — who also did a little acting — faces foreclosure in Florida. He’s been playing a “bandit” for years.

6 Flags that have flown over Texas. (United States, France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, and the Confederate States of America.) That’s the largest number of national flags to fly over any US state.

825,000 Total acres of the King Ranch in Texas– that’s bigger than Rhode Island!

43 Inches of rainfall that fell on some parts of Texas in a 24-hour period (courtesy of hurricane Claudette). That’s a US record.

4 Inches of rainfall in some Texas counties so far this year — that’s the worst drought since the 19th century.

Other Useless News – Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader Answer!

For those of you who read Len’s recent 5th grade economics challenge where he asked readers to guess the price of his room service bill, the answer was $28.43. Those are some expensive corn flakes! That means the people who came closest to guessing the right answer were Kellen and some guy calling himself “Dr. Dean” who both guessed $28! Honorable mentions go to Tania and Diane who guessed $27.50, missing the final price by less than a buck too!

Hey, if you happen to enjoy what you’re reading — or not — please don’t forget to:

Letters, I Get Letters
Every week Len features the most interesting question or comment — assuming he gets one, that is. And folks who are lucky enough to have the only question in the mailbag get their letter highlighted here whether it’s interesting or not!

This week, Len had a question for me: “Why do some medicine directions read: ‘Only apply to infected area.’ — I mean, come on, where else would you apply it?”
Len, you would be shocked, shocked I say, at what people will do with medicines if you don’t give detailed, explicit instructions. Vaginal suppositories being swallowed would be one example. I could go on and on … (Note from Len: “Please don’t, Dr. Dean.”)

Len: Will you guest host Black Coffee?
Doc: On the condition that I get to include a two-word phrase of my choice.
Len: Okay, but its mention has to be organic.
Doc: Fine. The phrase is “vaginal suppositories.”

It’s true, people are delaying retirement. They either don’t have enough money to retire or simply wouldn’t know what to do with themselves if they quit their job. Until they move on though, the younger generation will have a very difficult time moving up in the world.

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